Stikes from Jack Coop and Tyler James were not enough to secure victory as Squires Gate came from behind twice to secure a draw against Prestwich Heys at Brian Addison Park on Saturday.
Heys managers Lee O'Brien and James Hampson made two changes from Tuesdays goalless draw with Charnock Richard bringing in Kyle Jacobs and Greg Daniels, while summer signing striker Connor Martin was on the bench after returning from injury.
Prestwich were fast out of the blocks and in the tenth minute it was Matt Davies on the right who beat his man and crossed to Jack Coop but he just couldn't get his shot in as the defender closed him down.
The visitors kept pressing and were rewarded on twenty minutes in when Coop got the ball twenty five yards out and launched a terrific shot which flew into the top right corner of the net giving Squires gate keeper Nathan Pennington no chance, a great strike and an early goal of the season contender.
Just has Heys were dominating the game back came the home side on twenty four minutes when Kevin Spinelli on the left found Ryan Riley twelve yards out who made no mistake firing his shot bottom left past Prestwich keeper Jordan Hadlow.
Back came the visitors on twenty seven minutes when Isaac Lee found Greg Daniels on the edge of the box but keeper Pennington saved his shot and Heys who were forced into an early substitution on the half hour as Lee limped off being replaced by Kayle power in the middle of the park.
Heys kept the pressure on with Nathan Emery looking lively down the left whipping in a couple of crosses but no red shirt could get on the end off and as the half was coming to a close it was Davies again on the right his shot beating keeper Pennington but was cleared off the line to safety for the home side.
So all square at the break and the fans were looking to the skies to be treated to vintage aircraft flying over from the local airshow close by and it was the visitors who continued to press forward with Davies down the right finding substitute Power who fired over the bar and shortly after on fifty one minutes Heys were back in front and a great move it was.
Again it was Davies down the middle finding Coop on the right who knocked in a lovely cross onto the boot of the incoming Tyler James who smashed it home past Pennington from three yards to the joy of the visiting supporters.
Back came Squires gate on the hour having a shot chalked off for offside but another Heys lapse in concentration cost them dear on sixty four minutes when Regan Crossley found Kyle Campbell on the right who muscled in and fire past Hadlow from twelve yards and we were level again.
Heys rallied enjoying the majority of possession Daniels brought a save from the keeper flicking a header on and Coop fired over on eighty seven minutes as the visitors desperately tried to find a winner but the game took a twist in injury time.
Heys won a free kick in the middle of the park but Greg Daniels had an altercation with a player, enough for the referee to give him a straight red and likely a three game ban.
This was to be the final action of the day and as the full time whistle was blown Heys will look back at this one with frustration in a game they dominated for long periods but two lapses in concentration for the goals meant a share of the points rather than all three.